Need Fast Cash For Your Business? !!

Ever Try Factoring?

All factoring companies will send you cash for your invoices, but not all factoring companies are created equal. It's important to learn the differences.

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Ontario Factoring Companies

New to Factoring?

For those who aren't familiar with factoring, it is basically a fast way to get cash to run your business.

Factoring is Not a Loan

When you send your customers an invoice, they usually have 30 days to pay you back. Factoring companies will give you the bulk of the cash up front, sometimes within 24 hours, and collect the payments from your customers themselves. Once the invoices are paid in full, you’ll get the balance left over, minus a small fee.

Factoring Doesn't Require Debt

So how do you go about choosing the best factoring company?

Not all of them are created equal. Not all of them will give you the same level of service you need to help grow your business.

Everyone claims they have the simplest rate structure in the industry, no long-term contracts, same day funding, no up-front fees, no monthly minimums or maximums, etc., etc., etc.

We also offer these same benefits, but we GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR YOU that other factoring companies don’t.

Here’s Why We Are The Factoring Company You Need For Your Ontario Business

No other factoring company matches our level of superior service and offerings.

Financially Strong

We have been in business since 1979, are privately held, and have a proven track record of being financially strong. We have survived many economic downturns and in doing so, can help you through any difficult times you might encounter. We won’t go out of business when the times get tough, like some other factoring companies regretfully have in the past.

Part of a Vast Network

Every factoring company has a preference for size, industry, and risk. It’s impossible for you to know which company is the best fit for you. By contacting us, we can save you a tremendous amount of time by helping you find the best match for your business - whether it’s with us or another company.

We have a vast network of industry colleagues that we’ve built over 20+ years in the business. So, when you take the time to explain your needs to us, we can be the “one stop shop” to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

No Minimum

Most factoring companies will allow you to pick & choose customers to factor, however they usually have a minimum amount before they’ll work with you. With us, you can pick & choose what to factor on an invoice by invoice basis with no minimum.

Our factoring agreement is like carrying a credit card in your pocket. You carry it to use when you need it but don’t sign an agreement which will force you into factoring when you don’t need it.

Transparent Fees

Most factoring companies are not upfront about their fees. We are different. We are totally transparent about our fees. When you apply, you are provided a transparent, no obligation rate proposal with the fee for your company.

Our typical contract term is 90 days and we offer price breaks for extended term contracts as well as volume discounts. Optional services include $7/ACH for next-day funds sent electronically to your bank account or $12/wire for same-day funds. Invoices can be scanned and electronically uploaded directly to our secure server for $9/batch. In instances when original invoices are required, we offer discounted rates with Federal Express to submit your invoices.

That’s it! See which other factoring company, if any, will be totally up front with their fees before they try and get your business.

Higher Advance Rates

An “advance” rate is the percent of the invoice face value that you’ll receive upfront. Industry average advance rates are 70-90% of the face value of the invoice. So, for example, if your customer owes you $1,000, you should expect to receive an advance payment of $700 to $900 to your account. Our typical advance rates are higher than average - at 85-97% depending on industry and payment track record.

Personalized Solutions

We are not beholden to Wall Street investor money. We are a privately held company and don’t answer to investors or boards. We are like-minded entrepreneurs who understand what it takes to run a business. We take the time to hear your story, learn your struggles, and put together a solution for you rather than relying on an algorithm to determine your company’s value. Who do you want to rely on as a cash flow partner to fund your business?

Dedicated Account Administrators

Many factoring companies have either a lot of employee turnover, a complex voice mail system that you get lost in or operate call centers where you talk with a new representative every time you call in. We offer dedicated account administrators to be your point of contact – who knows your business intimately, and can help you in ways others just can’t.

Industry Veterans

We have been in business since 1979 and have staff who are dedicated to working in this industry as a career. We are veterans in this industry and can provide additional business guidance and resources as needed.

Our Business is Your Business

We establish a mutual risk tolerance to avoid putting you in the position to ever have to buy back an invoice. We also keep track of each invoice and follow them like your own credit and collections department would. Once they hit the payment date we place friendly reminder calls and/or emails on your behalf and keep notes as to when it is scheduled to be paid, and send copies if needed until payment is received.

Payment Trend Alerts

You will have access to online aging reports and your dedicated account administrator is kept in the loop and given advance notice of any collection issues so there are no surprises.

Up-to-Date Customer Credit History

You get direct online access to your customer’s business credit reports, or you can call and speak with your account administrator – your choice. Stay ahead of negative payment trends. This is critical to running your business and filling your next order.

Leading Edge Technology

We make strides to incorporate the latest technology to expedite the funding process, such as electronic submission of invoices, online reports, online credit checking and other emerging methods to streamline the process and reduce overhead, which means lower rates for you. Most other companies don’t even come close.

Financially Strong

We have been in business since 1979, are privately held, and have a proven track record of being financially strong. We have survived many economic downturns and in doing so, can help you through any difficult times you might encounter. We won’t go out of business when the times get tough, like some other factoring companies regretfully have in the past.

Part of a Vast Network

Every factoring company has a preference for size, industry, and risk. It’s impossible for you to know which company is the best fit for you. By contacting us, we can save you a tremendous amount of time by helping you find the best match for your business - whether it’s with us or another company.

We have a vast network of industry colleagues that we’ve built over 20+ years in the business. So, when you take the time to explain your needs to us, we can be the “one stop shop” to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

No Minimum

Most factoring companies will allow you to pick & choose customers to factor, however they usually have a minimum amount before they’ll work with you. With us, you can pick & choose what to factor on an invoice by invoice basis with no minimum.

Our factoring agreement is like carrying a credit card in your pocket. You carry it to use when you need it but don’t sign an agreement which will force you into factoring when you don’t need it.

Transparent Fees

Most factoring companies are not upfront about their fees. We are different. We are totally transparent about our fees. When you apply, you are provided a transparent, no obligation rate proposal with the fee for your company.

Our typical contract term is 90 days and we offer price breaks for extended term contracts as well as volume discounts. Optional services include $7/ACH for next-day funds sent electronically to your bank account or $12/wire for same-day funds. Invoices can be scanned and electronically uploaded directly to our secure server for $9/batch. In instances when original invoices are required, we offer discounted rates with Federal Express to submit your invoices.

That’s it! See which other factoring company, if any, will be totally up front with their fees before they try and get your business.

Higher Advance Rates

An “advance” rate is the percent of the invoice face value that you’ll receive upfront. Industry average advance rates are 70-90% of the face value of the invoice. So, for example, if your customer owes you $1,000, you should expect to receive an advance payment of $700 to $900 to your account. Our typical advance rates are higher than average - at 85-97% depending on industry and payment track record.

Personalized Solutions

We are not beholden to Wall Street investor money. We are a privately held company and don’t answer to investors or boards. We are like-minded entrepreneurs who understand what it takes to run a business. We take the time to hear your story, learn your struggles, and put together a solution for you rather than relying on an algorithm to determine your company’s value. Who do you want to rely on as a cash flow partner to fund your business?

Dedicated Account Administrators

Many factoring companies have either a lot of employee turnover, a complex voice mail system that you get lost in or operate call centers where you talk with a new representative every time you call in. We offer dedicated account administrators to be your point of contact – who knows your business intimately, and can help you in ways others just can’t.

Industry Veterans

We have been in business since 1979 and have staff who are dedicated to working in this industry as a career. We are veterans in this industry and can provide additional business guidance and resources as needed.

Our Business is Your Business

We establish a mutual risk tolerance to avoid putting you in the position to ever have to buy back an invoice. We also keep track of each invoice and follow them like your own credit and collections department would. Once they hit the payment date we place friendly reminder calls and/or emails on your behalf and keep notes as to when it is scheduled to be paid, and send copies if needed until payment is received.

Payment Trend Alerts

You will have access to online aging reports and your dedicated account administrator is kept in the loop and given advance notice of any collection issues so there are no surprises.

Up-to-Date Customer Credit History

You get direct online access to your customer’s business credit reports, or you can call and speak with your account administrator – your choice. Stay ahead of negative payment trends. This is critical to running your business and filling your next order.

Leading Edge Technology

We make strides to incorporate the latest technology to expedite the funding process, such as electronic submission of invoices, online reports, online credit checking and other emerging methods to streamline the process and reduce overhead, which means lower rates for you. Most other companies don’t even come close.

As you can see, we simply have more to offer you.

Other factoring companies don’t even compare.

And Not All Factoring Companies Can Say This:

More than half of our new business comes through client referrals.

So, Can Your Ontario Company Use Factoring?

Of Course! Companies of all sizes, from small privately-owned companies to large multi-national corporations, use factoring as a way to increase their cash flow. Factoring spans all industries, including trucking, transportation, manufacturing and distribution, textiles, oil and gas, staffing agencies and more.

Companies use the cash generated from factoring to pay for inventory, buy new equipment, add employees, expand operations—basically any expenses related to their business. Factoring allows a company to make quicker decisions and expand at a faster pace.

Unlike a bank loan, factoring has…

No principle or interest to pay over time

No debt to repay

Unlimited funding potential – no caps

Fast funding – no waiting months like at a bank

Approval is based on the strength of your clients, not your credit

Startups are welcome in using funding services

Some of the benefits you receive with factoring are:

Stop worrying about cash flow issues and start spending more time on your business.

No need to make monthly payments to repay a loan.

Receive money in as soon as two to four days – or sooner.

Reduce business costs associated with the collection process.

Win the battle against slow-paying clients.

Get instant credit evaluations for new customers.

Have complete control over your cash flow by deciding which invoices to sell and when.

Enjoy bulk-purchasing discounts or early payment discounts by having extra cash.

Improve your credit rating by having cash on hand to pay bills on time.

You get complete and detailed reports about your accounts receivable portfolio.

Provides cash for your expansion.

Provides cash for your marketing.

Improves your overall financial statement.

Stop worrying about cash flow issues and start spending more time on your business.

No need to make monthly payments to repay a loan.

Receive money in as soon as two to four days – or sooner.

Reduce business costs associated with the collection process.

Win the battle against slow-paying clients.

Get instant credit evaluations for new customers.

Have complete control over your cash flow by deciding which invoices to sell and when.

Enjoy bulk-purchasing discounts or early payment discounts by having extra cash.

Improve your credit rating by having cash on hand to pay bills on time.

You get complete and detailed reports about your accounts receivable portfolio.

Provides cash for your expansion.

Provides cash for your marketing.

Improves your overall financial statement.

Now you know everything you need about the factoring business.

We are the best. Our factoring is the only company you need. We want to give you money TODAY! So just pick up the phone and give us a call... We're waiting... Call Us Now! We Will Fund You Fast!

Call us today and let us help you get the cash you need to operate your Ontario business effectively.

Ontario is a city located in southwestern San Bernardino County, California, United States, 35 miles (56 km) east of downtown Los Angeles. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire region, it lies just east of the Los Angeles county line and is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 163,924, up from 158,007 at the 2000 census, making it the county's fourth most populous city after San Bernardino, Fontana, and Rancho Cucamonga. The city is home to the LA/Ontario International Airport, which is the 15th busiest airport in the United States by cargo carried. Ontario handles the mass of freight traffic between the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and the rest of the country. It is also the home of Ontario Mills and former home of the Ontario Motor Speedway. It takes its name from the Ontario Model Colony development established in 1882 by the Canadian engineer George Chaffey and his brothers William Chaffey and Charles Chaffey. They named the settlement after their home province of Ontario.[citation needed]In the years following Ontario's founding, the economy was driven by its reputation as a health resort. Shortly thereafter, citrus farmers began taking advantage of Ontario's rocky soil to plant lemon and orange groves. Agricultural opportunities also attracted vintners and olive growers. The Graber Olive House, which continues to produce olives, is a city historical landmark and one of the oldest institutions in Ontario. Dairy farming is also prevalent, as it continues to be in neighboring Chino. Much of southern Ontario still contains dairy farms and other agricultural farms. However, the area is currently under planning to be developed into a mixed use area of residential homes, industrial and business parks, and town centers, collectively known as the New Model Colony.

Information for the state of California

The economy of California is large enough to be comparable to that of the largest of countries. FY 2011, the gross state product (GSP) is about $1.96 trillion, the largest in the United States. California is responsible for 13.1 percent of the United States' $14.96 trillion gross domestic product (GDP). California's GDP is larger than that of all but 8 countries in dollar terms (the United States, China, Japan, Germany, France, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Italy).

California's GDP is larger than the GDPs of Russia, India, Canada, Australia, and Spain; in terms of Purchasing Power Parity,[103] it is larger than all but 9 countries (the United States, China, India, Japan, Germany, Russia, Brazil, France, the United Kingdom, Italy), larger than Mexico, South Korea, Spain, Canada, and Turkey. In terms of jobs, the five largest sectors in California are trade, transportation, and utilities; government; professional and business services; education and health services; and leisure and hospitality. In terms of output, the five largest sectors are financial services, followed by trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; government; and manufacturing. Agriculture is an important sector in California's economy. Farming-related sales more than quadrupled over the past three decades, from $7.3 billion in 1974 to nearly $31 billion in 2004.[107] This increase has occurred despite a 15 percent decline in acreage devoted to farming during the period, and water supply suffering from chronic instability.

Factors contributing to the growth in sales-per-acre include more intensive use of active farmlands and technological improvements in crop production.[107] In 2008, California's 81,500 farms and ranches generated $36.2 billion products revenue.[108] In 2011, that number grew to $43.5 billion products revenue.

NO DEBT - JUST CASH

The fact that there's no limit to the level of financing is the major advantage factoring has over traditional bank lending. As your company continues to grow, so too should the funding of invoices grow with you. -Ontario Factoring Companies

HOW TO GET MORE CASH

Ontario Factoring Companies Articles

The Best Kept Secret in Financial Services: Freight Bill Factoring!

If you're an existing owner of a trucking business, or perhaps you're planning on starting a trucking business, then you may be interested in Freight Bill Factoring. Freight Bill Factoring helps trucking businesses, both large and small, achieve their overall business goals; but before making any final decision you must fully understand how Factoring works.

Freight Bill Factoring has become very popular with trucking businesses and is often referred to as the financial backbone of the trucking business. If you're not familiar with Freight Bill Factoring, you may not know that factoring is a financing alternative for business owners: it gives them immediate access to additional financing capital they may otherwise not have access to. The process of Freight Bill Factoring is actually quite straightforward: it involves a factoring company purchasing bill of ladings at a discounted rate. This process is a win-win situation for both the trucking company who receives immediate funds and for the broker who pays for the invoices.

Freight Bill Factoring Is Not New!

Freight bill factoring is not a new idea; in fact, it has a long, rich tradition. Most civilizations that have engaged in commerce have also engaged in factoring in one form or another. For example, business relationships during the colonial period in North America were required to make cash payments in advance against Accounts Receivable in order for the business to continue with its commercial operations, prior to their users being paid for their goods. So, they were engaged in factoring!

Factoring Specialists Have Many Services to Offer

Of course, factoring has become a lot more sophisticated over the years, and today it's focused on financial management, credit worthiness, and on collections. However, the basic concept of purchasing Accounts Receivable has stayed the same. In addition, the modern factoring company of today can do a lot more than just funding: a factoring specialist can assist clients by evaluating and setting credit limits, verifying customer's credit worthiness, and professionally managing Accounts Receivable collections. Right across North America we see factoring companies existing in all forms and serving business sectors and industries of all types; and today, many large financial institutions even have their own factoring divisions. Generally, though, factoring companies are smaller, independently owned enterprises.

Banks Step Out as Factoring Steps In

Factoring has become very popular with trucking businesses because, as most business owners can verify, commercial lenders have become increasingly inflexible, with stricter regulations and ever-changing lending criteria. This inflexibility has forced both small and medium sized businesses to search for alternative financing sources, and this is where factoring has stepped in. Factoring is a simple, workable, solution-based process, providing an alternative for trucking businesses when traditional means of financing are not available. Factoring is proving to be a great financial remedy, particularly as banks and other lenders are becoming less friendly to small business owners.

Factoring Companies Operate Worldwide

The volume of factoring around the world has today exceeded the trillion-dollar mark! Factoring companies operate on every continent and, in the last four years, worldwide factoring transactions have increased by 60%. And that's why we say that Freight Bill Factoring is the best kept secret in financial services!

NO DEBT - JUST CASH

Ontario Factoring Companies Articles

Bookkeeping for Freight Brokers and the Most Common Mistakes Businesses Make

A freight broker is either a company or an individual who effects the transportation of goods by pairing up shippers with transportation services. The freight broker is not only responsible for pairing reliable and authorized transportation carriers with shippers, but also organizing the shipping needs for various organizations. Besides matching shippers with carriers, a freight broker is also responsible for ensuring each and every piece of cargo reaches its destination - and in good condition.

In addition to these tasks, freight brokers are also responsible for maintaining accurate bookkeeping records, and those who fail to keep meticulous accounting records are likely to lose money in the long run. In this post we've detailed what we believe are the most common accounting mistakes freight brokers make, and ways in which they can be avoided.No. 1: Attempting to DIY Your Bookkeeping Can Result in Costly Errors

Whether you handle the books yourself or delegate this vitally important job to an unqualified employee or even a family member, DIY bookkeeping is seldom, if ever, a good idea. Yes, initially you'll undoubtedly save some money, but your inexperienced bookkeeper's errors can ultimately become very costly to your business and result in expensive financing terms, increased bond premiums, and other unnecessary costs.

We strongly suggest you employ the services of an experienced bookkeeper who's qualified to deliver accurate accounting records, which will ultimately result in fewer errors and the job being completed quickly and efficiently.

No. 2: Postponing Important Bookkeeping Tasks Due to Heavy Workloads

It's not easy running a business, and anyone who finds themselves in this situation understands only too well just how difficult it can be to find the time to complete day-to-day time-consuming tasks. It's imperative that things like reconciling credit card and bank statements be completed each month because it's only through these reconciliations that errors can be found; plus of course it's how you determine out how much credit or cash you actually have.

As tempting as it may be to postpone these tedious tasks, you must ensure that your credit card and bank statements are reconciled every month, ideally as soon as you receive each statement. Keeping on top of statements means you can quickly identify any lost checks, missing deposits, or fraudulent charges, and be able to handle any discrepancies in a timely manner.

No. 3: Failing to Track Receivables and Invoices

Your business depends on you getting paid, and you won't be paid if you're not regularly and properly accounting for receivables. The lifeblood of your business is cash, which means the success of your business is entirely dependent upon you accounting for receivables. To put it another way, if the period of time between paying your carriers and receiving payment from customers is unnecessarily delayed by poor accounting practices, your business cash flow is going to be very strained.

If you're time-poor and realize you simply don't have time to track and collect invoices, then invoice factoring is the perfect solution for you. For just a small fee your applicable invoices will be purchased by the invoice factoring company, but the best part about invoice factoring is that you receive immediate payment! No longer will you have the time-consuming responsibility of trying to collect payments, thus saving an enormous amount of office time: plus, it leaves you free to take care of your own job, which is handling the day-to-day running of your business.

No. 4: Overlooking Liabilities Can Have Disastrous Results

When a surety inspects your business records to underwrite a bond, one of their first and most important considerations is whether your assets are sufficient to cover your liabilities. It's difficult for inexperienced bookkeepers to understand the full implications of accurate record keeping and sometimes DIY accountants record a liability but once the payment is made they forget to reverse the liability. This is a serious error because it understates net income while overstating liabilities, which makes your business appear less financially stable than it actually is.

The only way to avoid these unnecessary accounting errors is to hire an experienced bookkeeper. It's always handy to have another set of eyes, whether it be a CPA or an owner, to regularly review the balance sheet and check for discrepancies in account balances.

No. 5: Miscategorizing or Creating Unnecessary Expense Categories

All too often we see inexperienced bookkeepers either creating unnecessary expense categories or wrongly categorizing expenditures, either of which can be a huge red flag. Generally, each industry uses a standard set of categories for expenses and failing to follow this set of rules can signal to a surety or loan underwriter that an inexperienced person is handling your books; meaning that they may not be well prepared.

It's really important that your business's accounting software is correctly set up, preferably with the help of an accountant or experienced bookkeeper. Additional expense categories should not be added unless absolutely necessary. If you have any queries about how to classify expenses, don't hesitate to ask for guidance from your qualified accountant or CPA.

No. 6: Submitting Invoices with Insufficient Details

Don't try to save time by skimping on invoice details. Your customers' invoices should have detailed information on each line item; for example, do you invoice per mile, by weight, or by piece? Is the charge a flat fee? If there are additional charges such as fees or reimbursements for fuel, these should be listed as separate line items. The only way to avoid any confusion is to ensure that charges are properly detailed on invoices.

The last thing you want is for your customers to complain about charges they don't recognize on their invoices; and missing information can cause much confusion, resulting in delays in payment. All of these problems can be prevented by ensuring that your invoices have complete, detailed, and accurate information. Don't create unnecessary problems by trying to skimp on invoice details.

No. 7: Not Learning or Understanding the Full Functionality of Your Accounting Software

Getting a business up and running can be very expensive and time-consuming, and many freight brokers simply don't have time to learn how to use their accounting software package to its full capacity. This is not a problem if all your accounting and bookkeeping tasks are being outsourced; however, if you're using the software in any way at all, perhaps even just for entering checks and running reports, we strongly recommend that you learn how to use all functions of your accounting software package.

You can save so much time and have easy access to real-time information on the financial status of your business if you have the right accounting software and you know how to use it correctly. Having this information at your fingertips can help you make the right decisions to grow your business.

Ontario Factoring Companies Articles

Business Is Great, but Our Company's Cash-Strapped!

There comes a time in the life of most businesses when cash flow becomes a problem, and it's not just during difficult times that this occurs. There are so many different reasons why businesses may need an injection of cash, like sudden growth, or perhaps wanting to purchase new equipment or service bigger clients. Every business at one time or another will require urgent funding to sustain or grow their business.According to research, many small and medium-sized businesses are failing, certainly not due to lack of sales, but solely because they're unable to meet their short-term financial obligations. Considering the time, money, and personal investment that goes into the creation of every business, the failure of a business to thrive has become a heartbreaking reality for many people. Why would a profitable and growing business find itself in financial trouble? The answer is very simple. When just one or more of your larger accounts hold off on paying their accounts for perhaps an additional 60 or 90 days, you've now got a cash flow problem.

Running Out of Funding Options?

When experiencing cash flow problems, business people typically depend on conventional lending sources for a corporate line-of-credit, and many find themselves applying for short-term bridging finance. And how many business owners admit to using their personal credit card to pay for business-related expenses? However, there are times when traditional methods of funding are no longer available, leaving the acquisition of extended financing a frustrating and sometimes impossible task.

Fortunately, there's a viable alternative today, one which has been around for a long time but one that many businesses are not fully aware of. There's now a way for businesses to avoid cash flow problems and continue growing their business from strength to strength, even during difficult times. Factoring, also known as Accounts Receivable Financing, Asset Based Lending (and various other terms) is an alternative form of financing, designed to help businesses through periods of expansion and business growth. Factoring has quickly become a very practical and workable financial solution for many businesses, and more and more we're seeing businesses from different industries look towards factoring to resolve their cash flow problems.

How Does Freight Factoring Work for Trucking Companies?

Basically, a business with creditworthy accounts receivables can use factoring to receive an immediate injection of cash on those receivables. Factoring companies will typically say yes when a bank says no, thus providing a business with a much-needed cash injection. The process of factoring is actually quite simple. Your trucking company needs cash, and because you have quality accounts receivables your chosen factoring company will purchase any number of those receivables and immediately provide you with cash - anywhere up to 90% of the value of your invoices. Once your customer has paid the factoring company the total amount of your invoice, the remaining balance will be forwarded to you - less the agreed-upon fees.

A good factoring company will respond quickly to its trucking company clients and provide them with personalized and professional attention. With freight bill factoring, a trucking company will always have its cash needs satisfied with cash flow. It may be true that, when compared to other means of lending, factoring is more expensive, but borrowers report that the benefits they receive far outweigh the cost.

Freight Bill Factoring Is Not A Loan

Perhaps the greatest advantage of invoice factoring is the fast turnaround time because, unlike banks, there's no loan approval process with factoring. This means that business owners of trucking companies can receive cash in-hand on the same working day! In order to be approved for freight factoring a trucking company must have creditworthy customers and have a good reputation; however, once approved for freight factoring the process of receiving funding is quite automatic. Cash advances will be made on the same day, and it's important to note here that future financing is only limited by the value and number of receivables involved.

Freight Bill Factoring Is Very Popular with Trucking Companies

In the last decade many trucking companies have taking advantage of freight factoring, mostly because it's a great alternative to bank financing. In fact, freight factoring is often recommended by trucking companies financial advisers or accountants. We know of many cases where freight bill factoring is solely responsible for trucking companies being able to accept and process orders from customers that otherwise would have declined due to a lack of financing. Freight bill factoring has saved many companies from severe financial crisis, and even bankruptcy.

It's now very clear that freight bill factoring is playing a very important role in today's business environment. This type of financing allows trucking companies to increase loads, expand their customer base, and even survive a seasonal slump. The truth is that freight bill factoring works, and it works well!

Ontario Factoring Companies Articles

Medical and Healthcare Invoice Factoring

Don't Wait to Be Reimbursed - You Can Receive Payment Today!

Anyone in the healthcare profession is painfully aware that third-party payers like Medicaid, Medicare, HMOs, Workers Compensation, and other private insurers, can take what appears to be an unnecessary long time to settle your accounts. But there's good news, because with 'factoring' there'll be no more long waiting periods to receive payment on your medical receivables. For anyone in the healthcare profession who provides any type of medical services, factoring is here to assist with cash-flow.

Is There a Difference between Medical Factoring and Healthcare Factoring?

There actually is a difference between these two types of factoring, even though we hear many people using these two phrases interchangeably. Basically, when there is no third-party payer involved, then healthcare factoring applies, and if a third-party payer is involved, then medical invoice factoring companies are used.

Healthcare and medical receivables factoring is available for the following services -

- Hospitals

- Group and Sole Practitioners

- Laboratories

- Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Facilities

- Chiropractors

- Nursing Homes

- Durable Medical Equipment (DME)

- Medical Staffing Companies

- Medical Billing Services

- Medical Supply Companies

- Medical Coding Services

- Ambulance Providers

- Medical Transportation

- Medical Transcription Services

- Medical and Non-Medical Home Healthcare Providers

- Imaging Facilities Providing CT Scans, X-Rays, MRIs, and so on; and

- Many More!

Factoring for Healthcare Receivables

We typically associate healthcare receivables with customers who are not reliant on third-party payers. This includes sectors involved with medical staffing, medical supplies, medical transcription, medical coding and billing, and so on. Basically, it means that vendors who use healthcare factoring receive the benefits of an unlimited line-of-credit, all based on the services they provide.

You can see below that factoring healthcare receivables is a very simple process -

- As the healthcare vendor, you still invoice your customer for work you've completed. Some of the more common customers will include medical offices, nursing homes, hospitals, and so on.

- The next step is for the vendor to forward a copy of the invoice to the healthcare factoring company. Your factor will handle the collection of payment on your behalf.

- The factoring company will deposit an amount of money in the range of up to 85% of the gross value of the invoice into the vendors bank account within 24 hours, or less.

- The remaining (approximately) 15% will be held by the factor until such time as the account has been paid in full by the customer.

- Once the invoice has been paid in full by the customer, the factor will release the remaining 15%, less the agreed-upon fees, back to you, the vendor.

Factoring for Medical Receivables

Regardless of whether your business bills Medicaid, Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, a third-party insurance company, or HMOs, we have the perfect factoring solution for you.

The benefit to you of factoring your medical claims is that you'll receive upfront capital. It's the factor who will seek payment of your invoice.You can see below that factoring medical claims is a very simple process -

- As the provider, you'll continue submitting your claim to the third-party payer.

- At the same time, you'll submit a copy of the paperwork to your factoring company.

- The factoring company will deposit an amount of money in the range of up to 85% of the net collectable value into the vendors bank account within 24 hours, or less.

- Once the third-party payer pays your claim in full, the factor will release the remaining 15% (approximately), less the small agreed-upon factoring fee.

Ontario Factoring Companies Articles

Why Trucking Companies Use Factoring Companies.

As the owner of your own business, you may be more than aware already of the difficulty in making sure that cash flow issues do not become a problem down the line. After all, the worst thing that can possibly happen for your business is to find yourself embroiled in a long and difficult situation that leaves you forever trying to find the cash you need on an ongoing basis.

For any business in this situation, the problem can come for waiting for work to clear up and actually be paid into your account. Invoices, checks, and the like can take some time to actually to be processed which can leave you with short-term cash flow issues. Thankfully, there are options out there for businesses to look into - and one of these is factoring companies.

Factoring companies will, in exchange for your invoices, provide you with the cash today so that you don't need to worry about the waiting period that could make paying the bills and getting materials more difficult. With this type of setup, invoice factoring can become incredibly useful for many businesses who need to get out of a cash trap which they have found themselves in.

Because, depending on the size of the job, it can take up to 60 days for some businesses to get paid then it's important to cover your own back and not leave yourself cash short to pay the bills. After all, how many businesses have two months revenue just lying there to cover all their expenses until they get paid?

This is especially true of trucking companies. They tend to deal with lots of invoices which means a significant amount of collection time involves business owner themselves. Trying to get paid in time can become an incredible hassle and this is why you use trucking factoring companies who are happy to help out truckers specifically.

As we all know, trucking is an incredibly large industry with many companies out there employing hundreds of drivers. Unfortunately, many of these drivers end up in money troubles because they are still waiting for work from six weeks ago to actually pay them. When this is the situation for a trucking company, turning to factoring companies for assistance might be the best choice left.

This means that a trucking company can pay the wages of the staff, keep all the trucks topped off with fuel and continue to scale, grow and expand without always waiting for the money which is taking too long to come in. Trucking Businesses running without a factoring program put in place are leaving themselves at significant risk, as competitors cash out fast and continue to expand.

There's genuinely nothing to be worried about when it comes to using a Factoring company - they aren't like a bank or somebody who is going to leave you with a huge pile of debt to pay back. You give them genuine invoices from work you have already finished, you are merely speeding up the payment process.In the United States, where trucking companies thrive, factoring companies are not considered borrowing in any capacity. This confidential agreement then allows both parties to profit and enjoy a comfortable future - it gives the factoring company a guaranteed asset of income to add to the list and it gives the trucking firm the needed cash that they worked hard to earn.

The trucking company provides their invoices to the factoring company. The trucking factoring company then receive the payments from the trucking company's customers. Factoring has been around for hundreds of years and has been used for many years by many different industries - but none more so than truckers. While you may miss out on a small part of the money, something like 1-3% depending on who you work with, it means that you are getting the money today and can actually start putting the money to work.

After all, an IOU or an invoice is not going to pay for expenses, is it? For trucking companies when the money can be good one day and gone the next, it's up to the drivers to work sensibly and to ensure they are leaving themselves with a significant amount of time and finance to get through the week until they are paid again.

So the next time your trucking business is having some short-term cash flow issues and you are spending too much time chasing slow paying clients, why not start considering using a factoring businesses as a way to get your money and give yourself a more comfortable future in the eyes of your trucking staff and your bank balance?

Ontario Factoring Companies Articles

Healthcare professionals are finding that business loans and commercial lines-of-credit are becoming more difficult to qualify for, so today we're seeing more healthcare professionals looking to medical factoring to alleviate cash flow problems. All types of medical and healthcare practices can benefit greatly by choosing to factor their receivables and thus receive immediate cash payments.

In the past, healthcare has typically been a resilient industry, but today we see this industry facing financial challenges that leave practices struggling to meet their own financial commitments. Cash flow was virtually a non-issue for medical facilities, professionals, and their suppliers, but today with Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance companies working with strict reimbursement guidelines, professionals are forced to wait much longer than they previously waited to receive payment on their invoices. In addition, complicated documentation and billing requirements are resulting in fewer dollars and longer waiting periods.

Financial Difficulties Experienced by Healthcare Professionals

The above issues are creating serious problems for a large number of medical providers who not only must wait longer to get paid less money, but who are also forced to deal with growing operating expenses, including salaries and other benefits. Operating under these unsure conditions means that the viability of these businesses is being threatened and it's become almost impossible for them to pursue new growth opportunities. Today, a medical practitioner operating a relatively small practice could have receivables of up to $1 million tied up!

Any business that's confronted with cash flow problems will typically look to banks or other lenders for a loan. Offering the business a loan or line-of-credit can certainly be very helpful in the short term, but unfortunately neither of these products are an ideal financing solution because neither will permanently solve the real problem.

A business loan may be ideal for fixed capital purchases, but it's no solution at all for handling recurring business expenses. A line-of-credit can certainly be very helpful, but because it will have a credit limit and a fixed term it won't provide a renewable source of business capital. Once the credit limit has been reached or the term of the line-of-credit expires, the lender may either increase the credit limit or perhaps not renew it at all. It's a sad fact that, today, many healthcare professionals are finding themselves in this unfortunate situation.

Finding the Ideal Medical Financing Solution

The perfect financing solution would be one that's flexible and one that would provide a steady and reliable source of working capital. It would grow with the healthcare business, without the need to re-apply or having to approach a bank for an increase in the credit limit. In short, this perfect financing solution would provide working capital to finance both the current and future growth of the business. So, is there such a solution? Fortunately, yes there is! It's called medical factoring.

Explaining Medical Factoring

Medical factoring is a receivables factoring program designed exclusively for medical invoices. Because factoring medical receivables can be quite challenging, many factoring companies today are specializing only in the healthcare industry. It does require a certain amount of expertise to manage the medical claims process; plus, it becomes even more challenging when many healthcare receivables are either reduced or denied altogether by insurance providers.

What Types of Business Can Use Medical Factoring?

Many business owners are surprised to learn that factoring in general has been around for a long time. Medical service providers, in particular, seem to be completely unaware of the existence of factoring. The truth is that invoice factoring has become one of the most flexible and powerful business financing tools available today.

Many healthcare providers can benefit greatly from choosing medical factoring. Below we've listed just some of the healthcare service providers who can achieve huge benefits from a medical factoring program.

- Hospitals

- Medical Centers

- Physicians: Both Specialists and General Practitioners

- Outpatient Clinics and Facilities

- Medical Staffing Services

- Medical Labs

- Dialysis Facilities

- Home Healthcare Providers

- Physical Therapy Clinics and Groups

- Rehabilitation Centers

- Medical Equipment Providers

- Medical Labs, and

- Many More

What Are the Benefits of Factoring Medical Receivables

The benefits to healthcare professionals are very similar to the benefits enjoyed by many businesses in many other industries. They include -

- Faster (almost immediate) payment;

- Increased percentage of billings collected;

- Consistent cash flow;

- Access to debt-free working capital;

- Stress-free outsourced accounting and collection; and

- Being able to improve your business credit.

Medical Practices Can Depend on Factoring for Reliable Cash Flow

Medical factoring is an excellent financing alternative for medical practices because practices receive consistent and flexible financing which is directly tied to their insurance claims. This means that the financing will increase as more claims are filed. It's highly desirable for all medical practices to achieve a scalable and reliable cash flow, thus ensuring sufficient liquid business capital to cover operating expenses.

And with medical supply companies the situation is very similar. Depending on the volume of sales these companies can achieve fast and predictable business financing by signing up for a medical factoring program. And, as sales continue to grow so does the amount of financing, providing the much-needed working capital required to both grow and maintain business operations.

Medical Receivables Factoring for Smaller Medical Offices

Medical factoring is especially beneficial for smaller medical offices. Office overheads and staffing expenses can be dramatically reduced because the factoring company will take control of the more tedious and time-consuming administrative work involved in collections and processing claims. This frees up remaining staff members to concentrate on delivering excellent medical care. If you're a small medical practice and you have good growth prospects but a slow cash flow, receivables factoring could well be the ideal tool to assist in financing the growth of your business. You'll find that many factoring companies have minimums, and there are factoring companies prepared to finance a medical office billing just $50,000 per month.

Explaining How Medical Factoring Works

In simple terms, if a healthcare business is dependent on third-party payors, those payments will be accelerated with medical factoring. Within just days of the initial billing, the majority of the amount billed will be deposited directly to the business's bank account. The instant rewards are a dramatic shortening of the collection cycle and the elimination of cash flow problems for the business concerned.

Importantly, receivables factoring is not a loan, so there are no credit or financial requirements; there will be no impact to your balance sheet and there are no arbitrary limits. Medical factoring is the ideal financing tool for business growth because you can factor as much billing as your business is capable of generating.

How Long before My Business Is Accepted for Factoring?

With medical factoring there are no lengthy delays, certainly not like when applying for bank finance! A medical factoring program will usually take around two weeks to set up. This timeframe allows the factor to determine the stability of the medical practice and to ensure the reliability of its third-party payors. Then, once a medical factoring program is in operation, the financing will be predictable and constant. Once claims have been submitted to the medical factoring company, claims are typically funded within 48 hours.

The process of medical factoring is very simple, as follows -

- Your medical practice periodically submits billings to Medicaid, Medicare, and insurance companies. At the same time, copies of these billings should be forwarded to your factor.

- Within 48 hours of receiving a copy of these billings, the factor will deposit an advance of up to 85% of net collectables into your bank account. The balance will be held by the factor until such time as the account has been paid in full.

- Once the factoring company has received payment in full, the balance of the billings - less the agreed-upon factoring fee - will be remitted to you.

Medical Factoring Fees

Medical factoring fees vary depending upon the size and types of claims generated by the medical practice. It's not known why medical factoring today is not as widely known as it is in other industries; however, interest in this type of financing is now becoming more popular and widespread as business owners are beginning to understand the many financial and other benefits of medical factoring.

Medical factoring in the healthcare industry is fast becoming a widely accepted tool to resolve shortfalls in working capital financing and as a long-term solution for patient accounting support and medical financing. It's certainly a tool that healthcare businesses should give careful consideration to because cash flow problems can stall growth and prosperity in businesses of all sizes and types.

Ontario Factoring Companies Articles

Invoice Factoring; The Best Way to Grow a Temp Staffing Agency

When temp agencies are struggling with cash flow problems they typically have two options; the first option is to apply for a business loan from a bank or other lender and hope they achieve a favorable result. Their second option is to use invoice factoring, so in this post we're going to discuss why invoice factoring could be their best choice.

Many businesses in many varied industries are discovering that invoice factoring is the ideal way of addressing cash flow issues, and this is also true for temp staffing agencies. In fact, it may be even more true for temp staffing agencies because these agencies don't receive payment from clients until such time as their job vacancy has been filled and the selected applicant has completed a period of work. It's not surprising, then, that temp staffing agencies often struggle with cash flow issues!

How Factoring Can Help Temp Staffing Agencies With Cash Flow

Temp staffing agencies are required to use their own finances to pay for the necessary advertising in order to place their job candidates. The client is only invoiced once the temp agency has located the perfect applicant and that person has actually worked, which can involve a long period of time before being paid. And when they are paid, they're often paid on a per-hour basis, determined by the number of hours the successful applicant has worked. In the meantime, the temp staffing agency still has its own financial obligations, like rent, payroll, advertising costs, office supplies, and so on. All these expenses must be paid by their due date, which can place an agency in a short-term (sometimes long-term) financial crisis.

Temp Staffing Agencies Must Meet Their Own Financial Responsibilities

Like any other business, temp staffing agencies can't postpone their own financial obligations, so they need access to money. Rent must be paid, utilities must be paid, and their employees need to be paid on a regular basis. All business offices require supplies and money must be available to advertise job openings, so it's understandable that waiting to be approved for a bank loan may not be a practical or even feasible option. These temp staffing agencies need access to money, and the sooner the better. That's why we suggest that invoice factoring may be the ideal solution for resolving a temp staffing agency's cash flow problem.

How Factoring Works for Temp Staffing Agencies

When any business decides to negotiate an invoice factoring program to generate instant cash, the business may, in many cases, secure up to 92% of the total value of their invoices within 24 hours! Note that if this is the first time the temp staffing agency has worked with a factor it could take between four and seven days to establish a factoring program. Either way, the agency's cash flow problems will be over, and they can proceed to conduct and grow their business.

Many temp staffing agencies are affected by cash flow problems, sometimes only occasionally, but we strongly suggest all agencies learn about factoring and how it works, just in case the need for immediate cash should arise. Invoice factoring has become a very popular financing option for many businesses, particularly those who need an urgent cash injection. Most times, money will be advanced within 24 hours once the agency has established a relationship with a factoring company.

Invoice Factoring is NOT a Loan!

Another bonus of invoice factoring is that it's not a loan. Basically, all the temp staffing agency is doing is accessing money that's already owed and payable to them. Factoring simply provides a means for the agency to access this money when it's most needed

Now, temp staffing agencies don't need to approach banks and other traditional lending authorities, hoping and praying they qualify for a loan. All that's required is for the agency to provide the factoring company with copies of the invoices they wish to sell, together with time sheets for each employee. Then, within 24 hours the agency will receive a cash deposit into their bank account. No more cash crisis! The temp staffing agency will now have funds to meet their regular financial obligations without the need to take on any further debt.

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Questions You Need to Ask Your Factoring Company

In today's marketplace we're seeing more and more factoring companies, and factoring fees, rates and agreement terms have become very competitive. This means that, as a potential factoring customer, this competitiveness should work to your advantage. However, there are some issues you must consider when choosing a factoring company to suit your specific requirements.

Before entering into any factoring agreement, here are some important questions you should ask -

What Are Your Terms?

As a factoring customer, you'll be looking for as much flexibility in your factoring agreement as possible. It may be that you choose a long term contract with your factoring company if it includes flexible rates or a price break. In today's competitive market, many factoring companies are agreeing to adjust their rates based on competitive offers from other factors or increased factoring volume.

The majority of factoring agreements are a one year contract, which appears to be industry standard, and this contract will renew automatically unless you provide the factoring company either 60 or 90 days notice.

What's Your Fee Structure?

The fee structure may vary depending on both the factoring company involved and your industry. Some factoring companies charge a flat fee, which is calculated as a percentage of the total value of the invoice. On the other hand, other factoring companies charge additional fees to cover costs associated with doing business, such as money transfers, software, and so on. Ensure that the factoring company you're considering working with is completely upfront and transparent with you about its terms and fees.

Are You Able to Offer Both Recourse and Non Recourse Factoring?

Recourse factoring:

Recourse factoring is less expensive than non recourse factoring. With recourse factoring, you (being the client) are ultimately responsible if the factoring company is unable to collect on your customers' invoices. However, you're not necessarily required to pay the debt out of pocket if you have a recourse agreement and the customer defaults on payment. It may be that the factoring company will withhold a portion of future cash payments or payments held in reserve, with the money being placed in an escrow account until such time as the debt has been paid.

Non recourse factoring:

When you have a non recourse factoring agreement, the credit risk for the collection of customers' invoices lies with the factoring company.Therefore, we believe it's to your advantage to use a factoring company that offers both recourse and non recourse factoring, simply because you may find that some of your customers are more suitable for recourse factoring than others. In addition, you need a factoring company with a strong credit team because they can work with you to ensure you're dealing with good customers: to a certain degree this will relieve some of the pressure of being responsible for bad debt.

How Long Has the Factoring Company Been in Business?

With the marketplace becoming increasingly competitive, today we're seeing the creation of more and more factoring companies. However, many of these companies are recent start ups, with limited industry experience. Make sure you research the factoring company's history prior to entering into any factoring agreement: also research its background into providing financial services in your specific industry.

Do You Have the Capital to Grow with Me?

The fact that there's no limit to the level of financing is the major advantage factoring has over traditional bank lending. As your company continues to grow, so too should the funding of invoices grow with you. Do your research and learn as much as possible about your potential factoring company's client base and their capital structure.

Does this factoring company have a limit to the number of debtors it takes on? What's a typical account size? What's the factoring volume of their largest client? You'll probably find that factoring companies who have been serving your industry for many years will have greater capacity to finance your company as it continues to grow.

Is There Anything Else You Can Do for Me?

Obviously, factoring is more expensive than a conventional bank loan, and this is partly due to the back office services that your factoring company is able to provide. Besides collections and financing, many factoring companies will evaluate companies in your industry and provide credit information. Therefore, when looking for a factoring company for your business, make sure the one you choose offers additional services and products that can assist you in making good business decisions.

How Do We Start Factoring?

Fortunately, factoring companies are not unduly concerned about your balance sheet before they decide to work with you, unlike banks. However, they do have a process to follow when selecting new clients, so be sure you understand what the factoring company is looking for when it's considering you as a client. Are they looking at your credit ratings and/or your customers' payment histories?

Are they looking at your personal credit score?

In many cases a company will start factoring because it's looking for a quick injection of cash, so you need to know how many days the factoring company will take to review and process your application.

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The Basics of Invoice Factoring: Choosing a Factoring Company

Probably the biggest frustration for business to business (B2B) companies is waiting to get paid.Anyone involved in a seasonal business, long payment cycle, or lumpy cash flow will be able to relate to this statement. Some customers are very slow payers (of course corporate clients and governments come to mind!) and other customers demand generous terms.

Explaining Invoice Factoring

Basically, with invoice factoring your current but unpaid invoices are turned into cash - it's a financing solution for businesses. Other terms used for factoring are 'Accounts Receivable Financing', 'Invoice Financing 'and 'Receivables Financing'. Because many clients demand generous terms, it means that invoices can remain unpaid for anywhere between 30 and 90 days; while in the meantime you're left without cash and falling behind on important expenses, such as payroll, and missing opportunities to grow your business. And this is where factoring comes in: factoring reduces, and sometimes eliminates the frustration of unpaid accounts.

A receivable financing transaction usually involves three parties, and these are the company that initially issues the invoice, the customer who is required to pay the invoice (otherwise known as the account debtor), and the 'factor', which is the financing company prepared to supply the cash.

Explaining Invoice Financing

An invoice is issued to a customer after a company has delivered a service or product. This invoice will now be sold to the factor and, in return, the company will receive a cash advance: this will usually be between 70% and 90% of the invoice's value. With this cash the company finds it easier to pay employees; plus, it can now purchase supplies, materials, and inventory, and it can take on more work. Once the debtor pays their invoice the business will receive a rebate for the rest of the funds, less a fee which will be based on the value of the invoice and the term. This type of financial agreement benefits all three parties: the customer receives cash almost immediately, the debtor gets favorable payment terms, and the factoring company collects a fee.

Explaining the Difference between Traditional Bank Financing and Invoice Financing

There are, of course, both drawbacks and benefits to this type of financing for businesses. The obvious benefits of factoring are a simpler application process, quicker funding, and higher approval rates when compared to bank lending. Having access to cash allows a business to grow, to meet payroll, achieve supplier discounts for bulk purchases or early payment, and to purchase equipment in order to improve productivity.

Factoring has a very simple application process which eliminates some of the main hurdles placed on small businesses by banks. The speed of funding with factoring offers businesses the opportunity to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. In addition, the high approval rates with factoring means that many more businesses qualify, even though they may have previously been declined by a bank. Another bonus is that funds received from factoring invoices can be used to supplement bank credit, if necessary.

On the other hand, when it comes to cost, a line of credit at a bank is less expensive than factoring; this is assuming that the business will be successful in their application to the bank and that they'll have access to the finance within a reasonable timeframe. Unfortunately, these applications are not always successful (four out of five companies are refused bank loans), while others find the whole process too discouraging.

Another possible issue with working with traditional factoring companies is that some of these companies will advise your customers that their invoices have been financed: this information can cause issues for some small businesses because they prefer to maintain control over all correspondence with their clients. Other factoring companies actually take control of your account receivables. Our advice is that you look for a factoring company that's prepared to work on a non notification basis.

Receivables Financing Has Become Good Business Sense

Today we see factoring becoming quite commonplace in many industries, such as IT companies, professional services, wholesale trade, marketing, manufacturing companies and so on. Many, many industries are discovering the benefits of receivables financing.

Invoice factoring is an ideal solution for business to business companies who issue invoices payable within 15 to 90 days. Any B2B company who's experiencing rapid growth, long payment cycles, or lumpy cash flow, will benefit the most from accounts receivable factoring. On the other hand, businesses and business to consumer (B2C) companies that are paid on delivery and don't issue invoices would have no need of factoring services.

If you're interested in invoice financing and believe it may be an option for your business, see below for our tips on how to approach working with a factoring company.

How to Work with an Invoice Factoring Company

There are many advantages to invoice financing, but it can be tricky working with some traditional factoring companies. Some factoring companies don't have excellent customer service, and between confusing terms, long term contracts, monthly minimums, and hidden penalties, the experience can be quite daunting. Our aim is to ensure that you get a fair deal when working with a factoring company, and please remember that, as always, if a deal sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!

You're Looking for Transparent Factoring Fees and Rates

Companies that make it difficult to work out their all inclusive fees are companies who are working for their own advantage, so when determining pricing, transparency is key. If you're getting frustrated and not receiving direct answers, we suggest you move on to another factoring company that will be respectful of your time.

Another Word of Caution: Beware of receivables factoring companies who advertise low rates, which then increase when all their hidden fees come to light. We've heard of factoring companies who charge low monthly factoring rates, but you'll be charged for two months' even if the invoice was paid in one month and one day. We also know that some factors require monthly minimums, which means that you pay for financing even if it's not required. We strongly suggest that you read our article on factoring rates and tricks so that you approach factoring with knowledge and awareness.

Understanding Penalties, and How to Avoid Them

Be aware that some invoice factoring companies out there have hidden penalties. In order to avoid these penalties, you need to know why they occur. If you believe these penalties are out of proportion or unfair, then move on to another factor. It won't be long before you'll understand what fair and reasonable terms look like.

Read the Fine Print in Your Contract

In order to guarantee their profits, most factoring companies will try to lock you into a long term contract. Obviously this is good business for the factoring company, but it may not be so good for your business. You need to know what you're signing up for, so be aware of long term contracts where you'll be charged exorbitant cancellation fees if you should decide to leave.

Also, be aware that some long term contracts include minimums, so consider this carefully: you may find yourself paying for something you're not using when you only needed the factoring company to meet occasional cash flow needs. You shouldn't be forced to remain with a service that's not meeting your needs, so it's vitally important that you carefully read the fine print.

Customer Confidentiality

Once you start your research on factoring you'll discover that most factoring companies operate on a notification basis, which means that when you sell your invoices to the factor, they notify your customers. They'll also ask that the funds be routed directly to the factoring company's bank account, instead of your account. This can be an issue for business owners who prefer to have control of all communications with their customers. If discretion is important to you and your business,

we strongly suggest that your accounts receivable financing company provides non notification factoring, meaning that you retain control over customer communications. If this is not an option for your factoring company, then you need to move to a companythat will provide non notification factoring.

How Much Cash Will You Receive Upfront?

You'll receive an advance upfront, which is a percentage of the face value of the invoice. This advance will probably be somewhere between 70% and 90% of the invoice's face value. For example, let's say your customer owes you $1000: your advance payment should be somewhere between $700 and $900.

Factoring Minimums Compared with Single Invoice Discounting

You'll also notice in your research that many factors require small businesses to submit all invoices from certain customers. On the other hand, 'single invoice discounting', also known as 'spot factoring', means that the business concerned determines which invoices will be sent to the factoring company for advance payment. Make sure you understand your factoring company's terms before you sign anything. Single invoice discounting or spot factoring is generally the preferred method for small businesses because it enables you to retain control over your financing by determining which invoices will be sent for factoring.

Choosing Your Factoring Company

Think about all the above criteria, and look for a business partner who will provide your business with the best combination of flexibility, features, and terms that you require. By doing a little research you'll soon find a partner and an agreement that offers you the flexibility, funds, terms, and transparency that work best for you. Your aim is to find a partner that you'll be happy to work with long term, so don't settle for anything less.

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How Factoring Saved A Staffing Agency

The Bellosa Temporary & Permanent Hiring Agency has been experiencing a major uptick in business since the unemployment crisis began. The unemployed and underemployed workers have been keeping the phones ringing. The staffing agency is also fielding a lot of calls from employers too, looking for just the right hire. Company President and Vice President, Laurie Bell and Ted Stevens, have not experienced a boom in business since they first opened the doors in 2009, during the recession. They had an idea then that this would be a profitable venture.

The mantra that Laurie and Ted live by is that there's always going to be people searching for work and of course employers will always be on the lookout for good workers. This is especially true in healthcare staffing, the industry they specialize in. This seemed to be a safe bet for them as they embarked on this venture, but with any small business, the only way to keep the doors open is to keep pressing forward and out perform the competition.

In a relatively short period of time Laurie and Ted had built a nice sized business, they were able to hit the ground running with some brilliant marketing programs and a number of contracts from insiders. They grew rapidly, the timing couldn't have been better and they were very lucky in this aspect. By the fall of 2011 Laurie and Ted had weathered some ups and downs but they did have some solid clients like a few big insurance companies and a university hospital close by. These clients always paid their invoices on time. But they did start to notice a decrease in accounts receivables from some smaller clients such as rehab centers and private practices.

As winter approached they recalled previous winters and holiday seasons and realized that accounts receivables usually did slow down during this time. Laurie and Ted made the decision to delay their late payments until after the New Year. This plan didn't really appeal to them as it's no way to start a New Year, but they seemed to have no other options.

When New Year's had come and gone they realized that their Accounts Receivables had gone from 30 days past due to 60 days past due. Before meeting with their accountant Scott, they'd decided something had to be done, but they didn't know what.

Sitting in the conference room with Scott they listened as pulled all the figures up on his iPad saying,"Okay you two, I've been looking over the files you sent over and I can certainly see why you're worried about your late A/Rs but there may be a way to fix this. Do either of you know what factoring is?" Scott inquired.

Laurie and Ted looked at each other quizzically, and then Laurie said "I think it rings a bell, but I'm not really sure. Can you explain it?"

Scott began laying out the details, "You are sitting on a pile of invoices that are past due. The more time that goes by without them being paid, the bigger the bind this puts your business in. It makes it very difficult for you to grow, much less hire anyone new. If you don't have enough cash coming in . "

Ted interrupted with, "Then it could make it difficult to take on any new business because we wouldn't be able to hire the additional personnel we need and meet our weekly payroll. We need an inflow of cash and we really can't wait. If we have to wait any longer on these invoices we'll be in trouble."

Scott jumped in saying, "And this is precisely why I wanted to discuss factoring with you. The factoring company will purchase the invoices you are sitting on that are up to 3 months late, which gives you the cash you need now." He then showed him a chart on a piece of paper he placed in front of them.

Laurie began to carefully scrutinize it asking, "Is this the fee schedule?"

Scott answered, "Yes it's all right there. The factoring company makes 1% to 3% of the total amount of each invoice they purchase."

"That's sounds like a good deal to me", Ted said.

The three of them sat there and talked this over for a while and then Laurie and Ted made the decision to go forward realizing this was the best way to keep them afloat. They knew if they couldn't accommodate all the new clients they were acquiring the competition would get them and they would go down, they could just not afford to turn any business away.

They now needed to fill out an application and submit it to the factoring company and they also needed to show them a few back invoices, undergo a credit check for their company. Credit checks would also need to be done on the companies owing the debts that the factoring company would be purchasing.

It didn't take long for Bellosa's credit to be approved and the creditors' as well. Before long the factoring company purchased the overdue invoices and Laurie and Ted got the influx of cash they needed to cover things and allow them to continue growing their business.

The next time Laurie and Ted met with their accountant Scott, there were smiles all around.Scott said, "I've taken a look at your books so I know that factoring was the right solution for you."

"It worked perfectly", Laurie stated and went on to say, "The tiny amount we paid out for this influx of cash was certainly worth it."

Ted chimed in with, "Without a doubt! Whatever the fees were we made back and more since we were now able to hire more personnel so we could take on more business. It worked out for us and for them I would say!"

"That's what's great about factoring!" Scott exclaimed with a look of satisfaction on his face.

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Oilfield Services Factoring Services

Running a company in the oilfield services industry is no easy business, especially with payrolls to meet, equipment to purchase and deadlines that must be met. The sheer complexity of combining the geological research and modeling, imaging and exploration and finally the drilling to see whether oil is really present can take a lot of investment before any payoff can be seen.

For those who own a Frac Sand Hauler for example, the efforts that must be put in to start such as business can be considerable. But arguably the biggest challenge is paying the expenses as the invoices come in. A Frac Sand Hauler often has expenses that must be met immediately, but their invoices can take up to 60 days before they see the money.

What follows is an interview with Ray McClerand, a man who owns a Frac Sand Hauler business and ran into the same difficulties that many new companies of his type face. How Ray overcome some of the challenges in paying his bills through oil service factoring are explained in the interview.

"Welcome Ray, I'd like to know first why you decided to start up a Frac Sand Hauler company and how you prepared for the challenges it created."

Ray McClerand (RM): "I've been in the oil business for the past 15 years or so working on different jobs from roughneck to foreman to deskwork for different companies. A few years ago I saw the potential of having a Frac Sand Hauler business in this area and got together with a couple of partners to create a company. We sat down, went over the details and decided that this would be a real good time to build a business that was serving a particular need in this industry."

"So, I take it you created a business plan and took out the appropriate loans in order to purchase the equipment and hire the personnel necessary to get your company started?"

RM: "Exactly. Because I had been around this business for a while, I understood what was needed in terms of personnel and equipment. Plus, I had some contacts with others in the business that needed the type of services that a Frac Sand Hauler provides, so I felt that there was some real potential to make a profitable business work."

"How did it go over the first six months or so?"

RM: "At first, we were really thriving as my contacts had lined up some business my way. Our loans covered the first six months or so of operations and we were doing quite well with the business we had. My partners and I were certainly happy and everything was going good when something really strange happened."

"Could you elaborate on what you mean by "strange"?

RM: "Yes, after the first five months or so I started getting requests to have our company work with several other businesses in the area. This would mean having to expand our company through buying new equipment and hiring more people. But we did not have the cash on hand to make such a move. We were getting invoices from the businesses that we worked with, but it was taking up to 2 full months before we actually got the cash."

"So, you were making enough money to expand, but you didn't have it on hand because of the invoice system?"

RM: "You got it. Add to that our initial money from the loan was running out and we needed to start paying it back as well. I knew that if we didn't expand and accept the new business that others would step in and we would lose that money. So, we were in a real pickle until I heard about oil service factoring companies."

"Tell us a bit about oil service factoring and how it helped you out?"

RM: "Well, one of my partners had heard about factoring companies, so we checked it out and decided to go with one that was best suited for our needs. A factoring company buys our invoices with cash so we have money on hand to pay our bills and do what we need accomplished immediately. The factoring company then collects the money from the invoices when they become due. It's really been a win-win for what we do."

"That's interesting. I wonder if you could you explain a little further just how factoring has helped your company?"

RM: "Sure, instead of having to wait up to 60 days before we could collect on the invoices, we were able to have the cash on hand immediately to purchase some new equipment and hire some more people to expand our business. This meant that we could accept the new offers that other businesses were providing for us and not having to pass. I cannot say enough about how factoring really benefitted us when it came to expanding our business."

"So, it seems like factoring really paid off for you. Do you still use factoring today?"

RM: "Yes we do. Although for the most part we still cash our own invoices, whenever we need money quickly so we can buy some new equipment or expand our business a little further, we go back to the factoring company and cash in our upcoming invoices. It really has worked wonders for our company."

"Tell me, what would have happened if factoring was not an option?"

RM: Frankly, I don't know how we could be in the position we are today without factoring. In this business, you have to take advantage of new opportunities quickly because there are other companies out there who will step in if you don't. Basically, I don't think we would be anywhere near the company we are today if it had not been for factoring.

There is little doubt that Ray's company would not be where it was without oil service factoring that allowed him to expand his company when he needed. For those in the oil industry, having your invoices cashed immediately by factoring companies allows greater flexibility so you can grow your business a lot more quickly and take advantage of opportunities.